Morris Hendrickson

Morris Hendrickson, age 94, of McIntosh, MN, passed away on Monday, April 7th, at Poplar Meadows in McIntosh with his family by his side. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 16th, at Zion Lutheran Church in Oklee with Marijo Vik, SAM, officiating. Interment will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Oklee. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Tuesday, April 15th, and for one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. All visitation will be held at Zion Lutheran Church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

Morris Harlow Hendrickson was born on November 16, 1930, at home in Chester Township, Trail, Minnesota, the youngest of four children born to Haakon and Christine (Moen) Hendrickson. He grew up in Chester Township and went to Roseland country school through the eighth grade. After completing school he worked on the family farm until he went to work tree logging on the Iron Range with Arnold Sogla.

Morris was united in marriage to Eleanora Syverson on July 14, 1956, at Vernes Lutheran Church. After their marriage, they built a house in Fosston and started their family. Morris started driving truck for Standard Oil and also drove school bus for the Fosston School District. In 1963 the family moved to Oklee where he worked for Swenson Equipment and drove truck for Rueben Brekke for a short time, then started working at Northern Sand and Gravel in Trail. In 1971 he went on the road to work with Thorson construction. He purchased a farm close to the Hendrickson home farm (in Hill River Township) in 1973 and built a new house on that site in 1976, and farmed while keeping his job. In 1977 he went back to work for Northern Sand and Gravel, retiring in 1993.

Along with farming, Morris and Eleanora raised pigs. Morris also plowed snow and graded the roads for Hill River Township for many years. Eleanora passed away on December 14, 2011. In 2014, Morris switched houses with his son, Richard, and his family, moving into what is called “The Flom Farm” in Lessor Township (a farm that he purchased in 1987). He moved to Poplar Meadows in McIntosh in 2022.

Morris was a servant in his church and community. He was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church, serving as the church janitor and also serving many years on the Church Council. He was Fire Chief in Oklee, drove ambulance, was a member of the Oklee Lion’s Club, Oklee City Council, and was on the Board of Hill River and King Town Insurance. He was also involved with the Trail Community Club, helping with the fireworks on the Fourth of July for many years. Morris and Eleanora also generously paid to have the parking lot at Vernes Church paved in 2001.

Morris had many interests. He enjoyed hunting, trapping, bowling (bowled in a league in Oklee), playing cards and dice, Bingo and cards in Gully, going to Rollag and Itasca, watching school sports in person and on tv, going for drives, Polka music and dancing, Ranger rides with his dogs, and sitting down for a visit and a cup of coffee. He also enjoyed the Syverson family reunion each year. A highlight was taking a trip to Norway to see his dad’s homestead and visiting his Norwegian relatives in 2015. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family.

Survivors include his three children, Cindy (Wayne) Schmiedeberg, Nancy Gunderson, and Richard (Jami) Hendrickson, all of Trail, MN; grandchildren, Ashley (Dave) Halverson, Megan (Andy) Lukkes, and Emma, Natalee and Lola Hendrickson; great grandchildren, Gunnar, Aubrey and Ellie Halverson. Nieces, nephews and cousins, three sisters-in-law and one brother-in-law also survive.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanora; infant son, Michael; his parents; son-in-law, Brad Gunderson; niece, Darlene Sollie; sister, Mabel Enerson; and brothers, Kenneth and Helmer.